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Problems with recording the spread of COVID-19 in developing countries: Evidence from a phone survey in Indonesia

Author

Listed:
  • Budy P. Resosudarmo
  • Rus'an Nasrudin
  • Pyan A. Muchtar
  • Usep Nugraha
  • Anna Falentina

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic governments in developing countries tended to underestimate the actual spread of the pandemic due to limited number of tests. To provide alternative to the government announced COVID-19 figures, many non-governmental agencies/individuals used various methods to gather data on the spread of the pandemic. One of the methods applied is phone survey approach of directly asking respondents whether they are infected and how the sickness impacts on their livelihood. This paper focuses on evaluating the reliability and usefulness of this approach by carefully conducting a phone survey on our own. The findings suggest that by developing a careful algorithm, a phone survey might be able to provide a better estimate than those announced by the government in developing countries where capabilities of conducting COVID-19 test are limited. Nevertheless, our findings also reveal that the reliability of a phone survey could be low when the response rate is too low.

Suggested Citation

  • Budy P. Resosudarmo & Rus'an Nasrudin & Pyan A. Muchtar & Usep Nugraha & Anna Falentina, 2022. "Problems with recording the spread of COVID-19 in developing countries: Evidence from a phone survey in Indonesia," Departmental Working Papers 2022-08, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pas:papers:2022-08
    as

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    File URL: https://acde.crawford.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/publication/acde_crawford_anu_edu_au/2022-07/acde_td_resusudarmo_et_al_20222_08_1.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Siddharth Chandra, 2013. "Mortality from the influenza pandemic of 1918-19 in Indonesia," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 67(2), pages 185-193, July.
    2. Osuke Komazawa & Ni Wayan Suriastini & Ika Yulia Wijayanti & Maliki & Dinar Dana Kharisma, 2021. "Older People and COVID-19 in Indonesia," Books, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), number 978-602-5460-31-9 edited by Osuke Komazawa & Ni Wayan Suriastini & Ika Yulia Wijayanti & Maliki & Dinar Dana Kharisma, January.
    3. Anna T. Falentina & Budy P. Resosudarmo & Danang Darmawan & Eny Sulistyaningrum, 2021. "Digitalisation and the Performance of Micro and Small Enterprises in Yogyakarta, Indonesia," Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(3), pages 343-369, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Indonesia; COVID-19 pandemic; phone survey; developing countries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management

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